Breaking: CIA preparing for possible strike against Russia

Hillary Clinton wants us to believe that Russia is behind the WikiLeaks. Now the CIA is preparing for possible cyber strike against Russia amid alleged election interference. According to NBC News, sources say the agency has been tasked with preparing a “clandestine” and wide-ranged cyber operation aimed at embarrassing Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking Kremlin leaders.

The Obama administration is contemplating an unprecedented cyber covert action against Russia in retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the American presidential election, U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.

Current and former officials with direct knowledge of the situation say the CIA has been asked to deliver options to the White House for a wide-ranging “clandestine” cyber operation designed to harass and “embarrass” the Kremlin leadership.

The sources did not elaborate on the exact measures the CIA was considering, but said the agency had already begun opening cyber doors, selecting targets and making other preparations for an operation. Former intelligence officers told NBC News that the agency had gathered reams of documents that could expose unsavory tactics by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vice President Joe Biden told “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd Friday that “we’re sending a message” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and that “it will be at the time of our choosing, and under the circumstances that will have the greatest impact.”

“The sources did not elaborate on the exact measures the CIA was considering, but said the agency had already begun opening cyber doors, selecting targets and making other preparations for an operation,” the report states.

Given the unprecedented nature of the operation, the White House – if it chooses to proceed – is reportedly aiming to match the severity of alleged Russian hacking.

An attack on the Russian power grid, for example, would be vastly disproportionate and set a dangerous precedent – opening the US up to a similar attack. Therefore, an operation designed to discredit Putin in the eyes of the Russian public is most likely to take place.

One former intelligence officer alleged that a large cache of documents exposing the “unsavory tactics” of Putin had been gathered while Retired Admiral James Stavridis stated that attacks should be taken against Russia’s ability to censor online content concerning “the financial dealings of Putin and his associates.”

Whether or not such an operation will be carried out remains to be seen given the administration’s history of abandoning covert action against Russia, former CIA officers claimed.

“We’ve always hesitated to use a lot of stuff we’ve had, but that’s a political decision,” one former officer said. “If someone has decided, `We’ve had enough of the Russians,’ there is a lot we can do. Step one is to remind them that two can play at this game and we have a lot of stuff. Step two, if you are looking to mess with their networks, we can do that, but then the issue becomes, they can do worse things to us in other places.”

Expressing similar doubts, former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell argued that it was unlikely the US would attack the Russian networks.

“Physical attacks on networks is not something the U.S. wants to do because we don’t want to set a precedent for other countries to do it as well, including against us,” Morell said. “My own view is that our response shouldn’t be covert — it should overt, for everybody to see.”

The Obama administration last Friday officially blamed Russia for political hacks involving the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations.

Alex D is a conservative journalist, who covers all issues of importance for conservatives. He brings attention and insight from what happens in the White House to the streets of American towns, because it all has an impact on our future, and the country left for our children. Exposing the truth is his ultimate goal, mixed with wit where it’s appropriate, and feels that journalism shouldn’t be censored. Join him & let’s spread the good word!

Alex D.

Alex D is a conservative journalist, who covers all issues of importance for conservatives. He brings attention and insight from what happens in the White House to the streets of American towns, because it all has an impact on our future, and the country left for our children. Exposing the truth is his ultimate goal, mixed with wit where it's appropriate, and feels that journalism shouldn't be censored. Join him & let's spread the good word!